Reaping the benefits from one of one of Region Two’s best natural resources

DESPITE living in the remote areas of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) a group of women have decided to become business entrepreneurs making use of the natural resources in their environment.

The group, Strong Hope Success Enterprise was approached by Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson who was in the community of Martindale listening to the concerns of the residents last Wednesday.

When the minister came upon the women they were in the process of squeezing the milk out of some 300 coconuts on the wharf of the Martindale Primary School.
Most of the women learned how to make coconut oil individually in their households for personal purposes but later decided to use their skills to help push their joint business.
Chairperson of the group, Yolanda Ashby said the group of over 12 members came together in an effort to generate additional income into their homes apart from the farming of cash crops.

“We were trying with the coconut water business but it seemed like we wouldn’t get through with it so we decided to switch to making virgin coconut oil and normal coconut oil,” Ashby told the Pepperpot Magazine.
The women grind and grate the coconut with a mill and then squeeze the milk out of the shredded portion into tall drums where it sits for some time until the top layer of fat can be scooped off leaving the virgin oil behind.

They then put the oil in containers and set them out in the sun to cure for a few days and later bottle the oil for sale while the remaining oil in the drums can be boiled to make regular cooking oil.

Seeing their efforts, Minister Ferguson encouraged the women to join the Government’s Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme through which start-up businesses are funded to support businesses expansion in communities.
The programme is being implemented through the Ministry of Communities headed by Minister Ronald Bulkan.
As she was invited to try squeezing the milk out of the shredded coconut, Ferguson commented:

“This is to show how people in far-flung areas work hard,- the sacrifices they’re making and I’m happy to at least, get a feeling of their experience.”

Another woman who is a part of the group is Alyse Blackman, a Peace Corps Volunteer from Pennsylvania in the United States living and teaching in the community at the Martindale Nursery and Primary School for three years.

“It’s a nice community. I love it here. Everyone’s so willing just to help and to do what they can to help everybody else in their community,” the woman said.
She is scheduled to leave this August but adds that she has many experiences to share with her friends back home.

Minister Ferguson encouraged Blackman on her efforts and wished her the very best of success for her future ventures.

The Strong Hope Success Enterprise group also creates jewellery from the remains of the coconut shells and Awarra/Owara seed which are sold at the Marriott Hotel and other places.

In addition, the group has acquired a plot of land where they hope to eventually construct a building to better facilitate their projects.